"the learned will probably consider them to be of primary importance."

Dr. Buchanan then relates his success in obtaining both Syrian and Hebrew manuscripts, and describes the brass tablets, fac-similes of which he procured at Cochin, and on which are engraved the privileges granted several centuries since to the Christians and Jews by the native princes of Malabar, But of all these circumstances a particular account is already before the public a.

In the course of his tour, Dr. Buchanan made drawings of several of the Syrian churches on the spot; of which, though extremely simple, and with one exception exhibiting only the principal front of each building, it has been thought desirable to obtain engravings, as an accompaniment to this part of his memoirs. They represent the old church of Paroor, those of Candenad and Udiamper, and that of Alangatta. The three former have been already particularly mentioned. Of the latter it will appear, that he merely states his intention of visiting it. It is said to be the largest of the Syrian temples, and a very handsome and noble building. The church of Paroor, as Dr. Buchanan remarked generally of the most ancient Syrian structures, is not unlike some of the old parish churches in England. The other three

* Christian Researches, pp. 128. 143. 232. 234.

b Asiatic Researches, vol. vii.

are more ornamented, and evidently in the style of architecture prevalent in Asia Minor and Syria, The sketches of these venerable buildings can scarcely be contemplated without exciting some tribute of applause to the Christian zeal and energy which prompted Dr. Buchanan to explore the recesses amidst which they had been for ages concealed, and to shed around them that scriptural light which poverty and neglect had well nigh extinguished.

The following miscellaneous extracts from his letter to Mr. Brown, dated Cochin, may next be added.

"Colonel Macaulay has been fortunate enough to "incline the Travancore court to the belief, that "all the Christian churches are, and necessarily "must be, cognizable, in respect of interior ma

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nagement, and the appointment of Bishops, by "the Christian king, who is now sovereign of India. "The Bishop of Cochin, lately appointed from "Goa, arrived while I was here. But he could not "enter on the duties of his office until he was re"cognized by the British Resident, who gave him "his authority to be presented to the government "of Travancore. The Bishop of Cochin presides "over most of the churches on the sea-coast, to"wards the south.

"As to the Christians in the territories of the "King of Cochin, the Dutch constantly assumed "the entire management of the churches, and even

"the collection of the revenues due to the Rajah " from the Christians. This was done to preserve "the people from oppression. It would be desir"able that a similar right were exercised by the English government in relation to the Christians "in the territories of the King of Travancore.

1

"I was present the other night at the mar"riage of the daughter of Nathaniel, the richest "Jew of the place. It was a very splendid solem"nity. The women were covered with gold and "silver Dacca and Surat muslins, that being the "costume on such occasions from time immemo❝rial.

"The weather on the coast is still dry and plea"sant. I have had no cold as yet this year; an indisposition which I never escaped in Calcutta "in the months of October and November. I "expect to leave Malabar in about a fortnight, and "shall probably be with you in Bengal about the "end of February. Swartz's catechist is still with "me. I forget whether I mentioned to you that "one of Mr. Swartz's brass lamps is destined for

you. It is called the Halle University lamp. It

gives a bright and steady light, and a square "moveable

shade canopy

the preserves

eyes.

It is

"worn thin by the midnight lucubrations of the

"old man; for he was a hard student to the last year of his life.

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"I am now about to visit the interior of this "country a third time, and shall first proceed to

"Angamalee, formerly an archbishopric of the "Syrian Christians. I have written to you thus par"ticularly of my tour through Malabar, in order, "that if I should be long delayed in my return, you may know what has been done. I have suc"ceeded certainly in the general objects of my en"quiry beyond my most sanguine expectations.

"Mr. H. at Angengo has heard of an ancient "history of Malabar in the Malayalim language, "which his linguist has promised to procure. The

Rajah's dewan tells me, that it is referred to in "public acts. Mr. H. says, there are in the epis

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copal library at Verapoli some volumes on Shan"scrit literature from the Propaganda, which, if "possible, I shall procure for Mr. Colebrooke's "inspection. I wish Mr. C. himself were here. "The Brahmins still aver, that Malabar is the "cradle of Shanscrit science; and Colonel Ma"caulay has adopted that opinion fully. It possibly existed here at as early a period as in the "north, but not with the same advantages of im"provement."

The date of Dr. Buchanan's next letter is December 14th, from Angamalee in Malabar. Though the name of this place occurs in the extracts published by himself from his Journal, the following account of it will be found to be fuller and more interesting.

a Christian Researches, p. 138.

Angamalee was formerly the seat of the Arch"bishop of the Syrian churches in the mountains "of Malabar. In the town of Angamalee there "are three churches within a quarter of a mile "from each other, in all of which service is still "performed. The cathedral church is the largest, "and contains the tombs of bishops and archbi"shops for many centuries. centuries. As I approached the "town of Angamalee in the evening, I heard the ""sullen roar' of the great bell reverberating through "the mountains. When the Romish Archbishop "Menezes visited this place in 1599, the Christians "strewed the way up the hill with flowers as he ad"vanced. And yet he came to burn the ancient "libraries and archives of Angamalee. As the ❝flame ascended, the old priests wept; but they "were obliged to hide their tears, dreading the in

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quisition at Goa. The Archbishop presented him"self next day to the multitude, arrayed in his pontificals, resplendent with gold and precious "stones. To this day they have a lively tradition "of the splendour of his robes blazing in the sun, "and forming a striking contrast with the plain "white garments of their own primitive church. "When Tippoo waged war with the King of Tra"vancore in 1791, he sent detachments in every "direction to destroy the Christian churches, and particularly the ancient edifices at Angamalee. "Two thousand men penetrated into the mountains, " and were directed to the place by the sound of its

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